Japanese foreign minister stresses safe navigation in Hormuz
Japan's foreign minister rejects Hormuz passage fees, calls for international discussion on the strait and opposes unilateral changes by force or coercion.
- At an international maritime safety meeting, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi emphasized the importance of free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Motegi specifically described the collection of passage fees in the strait as "unacceptable."
- He called for the situation surrounding the Strait of Hormuz to be discussed by the international community as a whole.
A maritime safety meeting co-chaired by Japan, Canada and others brought together 53 countries and organisations in New York on Wednesday (September 23).
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi used the gathering to emphasise the importance of free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Turning specifically to Hormuz, Motegi described the collection of passage fees as unacceptable.
He also called for the situation surrounding the strait to be discussed by the international community as a whole.
Motegi also set out Japan’s position on advancing its updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific vision.
With China’s moves in the East and South China seas in mind, he opposed unilateral attempts to alter the status quo through force or coercion.
Motegi additionally called on China to comply with the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague rejecting its territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Separate meetings with the foreign ministers of Fiji and the Maldives were also held that day.
Motegi and his counterparts agreed to strengthen cooperation in security and other areas.
[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
